MANAGING GRAY MOLD OF
STRAWBERRY
Bill Turechek, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Geneva, NY
G
ray mold is the most common fruit rotting pathogen of
strawberry in New York. It is a major problem during bloom and on ripening, mature and
harvested fruit, particularly during wet weather. Aside from the direct losses the disease
can cause in the field, diseased fruit are unsightly in pick-your-own operations or in pre-picked
baskets and may have an adverse affect return customers.
Disease Cycle
Gray mold is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. This fungus is probably the most ubiquitous
pathogen worldwide in that it attacks numerous fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. B.
cinerea survives the winter in dead or dying leaf tissue and plant debris. In spring, the fungus
produces spores that are disseminated to susceptible plant parts by wind and splashing rain (or
irrigation water).
Under cool and wet conditions, fungal spores germinate and infect the blossoms and leaves.
Symptoms on leaves are not obvious until leaves begin to die, and for several weeks afterwards
the fungus produces spores on the dead and dying leaves (Fig A). These spores serve as the
primary source of inoculum for blossom and fruit infection. Blossom and mature fruit infection is
possible when rain, heavy dew, or overhead irrigation occurs in combination with temperatures in
the range of 40-85 F; the most conducive temperatures for infection lie within the range of 59-77
F. Infection can occur with as little as 6 hours of wetness, and the rate of infection approaches
90% when flowers or fruit are wet for 24 hours or more.
Blossom infection is the
primary means in which
fruit become infected.
Flowers are susceptible
once they have opened,
but the susceptibility to
infection increases
dramatically two to three
days after opening. The
fungus attacks the petals,
stamens, and pistils but
not the sepals (Fig B). One
to several blossoms per
cluster (inflorescence)
may become infected, and
infected blossoms often
turn brown, wilt, and die.
This is called blossom
blight. The fungus enters
developing or immature
fruit via these individual
flower infections where it
remains quiescent (latent)
until the fruit begin to
ripen. Green fruit are
virtually resistant to direct
infection.
As the berries begin to ripen, the fungus becomes active and begins to colonize the fruit.
Symptoms start as a discoloration and typically at the calyx end (Fig C). If the infected berries do
not fall to the ground, they shrivel, dry and eventually form a "mummy". In the process, the fruit
become covered with the grey powdery fungal spores that are easily dispersed by wind and
splashing rain (Fig D). Additional fruit infection from these spores is possible, but considered to
be of minor importance compared to those initiated through blossom infection. However, mature
fruit do become infected when they are in direct contact with rotten fruit, particularly when wet
weather occurs through the harvest period.
Disease Management
Several cultural practices can help minimize disease development. Because prolonged wetting
events significantly increase the risk of infection, any practice that facilitates good air circulation
through the canopy and rapid drying of fruit can diminish the amount of infection. This includes
proper plant spacing within and between rows and weed control. Gray mold is often most severe
within the canopy where the air circulation is poorest. Another practice that helps reduce the risk
of infection is to remove the dead and rotting tissue from the planting. It is these rotting tissues
where the fungus produces the majority of the infective spores. Although, the fungus can attack
many plants, it appears that outside sources of inoculum play a small role in the overall
development of the epidemic relative to local sources of inoculum. Mature fruit are very
susceptible to infection, especially if they have been bruised during picking. Therefore, fruits
should be handled gently during picking and packing. If wet weather is prevalent during harvest,
fruits should be picked promptly to avoid additional infection in the field.
In New York, gray mold can be controlled usually with two well-timed fungicide applications
during bloom. The first application should be made at early bloom (5-10%) followed by another 7
to 10 days later or at full bloom. Remember that early blooms (king bloom) typically produce your
largest and best quality fruit, so protection needs to be started early. Under wet conditions or
during prolonged bloom periods more than two sprays may be necessary. When these conditions
occur it will be important to provide fungicide protection throughout bloom. The number of
bloom sprays required depends upon the weather. If it is hot and dry, no fungicides are required.
If it is very dry and overhead irrigation is used for supplemental water, irrigation can be applied
in early morning so that plants dry as fast as possible. Keeping plants dry reduces the need for a
fungicide application. Most years are not this dry and fungicides are generally applied as
discussed above or on a 7-day schedule through bloom. If it is extremely wet, a shorter interval (4-
5 days) may be required in order to protect new flowers as they open.
Many products are labeled for use on strawberry. Elevate 50WG or Captevate 68WDG and Switch
62.5WG are the most effective fungicides for disease management during bloom. For resistance
management, no more than 2 consecutive sprays of Elevate or Switch should be applied.
Therefore, in years when wet weather prevails during bloom (i.e., when more than two sprays are
needed), a broad-spectrum fungicide such as Captan (50WP, 80WP, 80WDG or Captec 4L),
Thiram 65WSB, or Topsin-M 70WSB should follow the use of Elevate and Switch. These
fungicides also have some activity against the foliar diseases leaf blight and leaf spot.
Anthracnose and Leather Rot:
Although gray mold is the primary disease of concern during bloom, we should also be thinking
about managing anthracnose. In the pre-bloom period, Captan should be applied if the weather is
particularly wet and warm to reduce the build-up of anthracnose spores. During bloom the “new”
fungicide Captevate (a prepackage mix of Captan and Elevate) will provide excellent control of
gray mold and will have some efficacy against anthracnose. Switch is labeled for control of both
gray mold and anthracnose. This fungicide is excellent against gray mold but the jury is still out
on how well it works against anthracnose. Once the berries begin to develop, a different class of
fungicides will be used to manage anthracnose fruit rot. This will be covered in next month’s
edition of the NYBN.
Aliette 80WDG is labeled for control of Red Stele and Leather Rot. For Leather Rot, apply 2.5 to 5
lb/A. Apply as a foliar spray between 10% bloom and early fruit set, and continue on a 7-14 day
interval as long as conditions are favorable for disease development. Applications can be made
the same day as harvest (PHI=0 days). Aliette has no activity against gray mold, so this fungicide
should be included in mixture with your gray mold fungicide
(Reprinted from: New York Berry News, Vol. 3 No. 4, April 15, 2004.)
